Chapter 308 - 130: One of the 3 Ferocities: Resentment

After his battle with an incarnation of the Leader of Gui Chen Sect, Su Bai hadn’t made many other moves. Yet, he had gathered many Daoists from the Gui Dao Mansion within the borders of the Dayu Immortal Dynasty. He had even forced the Gui Chen Sect out of the Desolate Province.

There were even rumors that the Leader of Gui Chen Sect seemed to fear him greatly and had ceased all further activity.

As a result, his reputation naturally spread.

After all, while ordinary mortals relied on face-to-face communication, news traveled much faster among Martial Arts Practitioners.

Of course, the fastest at spreading news were the Daoists who held a Yin Department Divine Position.

Relying on the Incense City, they could instantly enter and communicate with all other Daoists.

It wasn’t uncommon for some Cultivators to pay a price, either to purchase intelligence or to have them pass on information.

"The Celestial Secret Sect? Your master is the Celestial Secret Sect Master?"

Su Bai raised an eyebrow, holding his wine cup.

Within Dayu’s Thirteen Provinces, there were countless sects. While many were small and unknown, some naturally held immense reputations.

The Celestial Secret Sect was one of the latter.

On the surface, the reclusive Celestial Secret Sect was nowhere near as prominent as the Wansheng Institute or the Gui Chen Sect.

In reality, however, the Celestial Secret Sect’s power was quite formidable.

The Celestial Secret Sect Master was said to be an ancient monster from the Feather Transformation Realm who had lived for tens of thousands of years.

Tens of thousands of years.

If twenty years was a generation, then tens of thousands of years spanned thousands of generations!

Even a pig that had lived for so long couldn’t be underestimated, let alone a Feathered Transformation Great Power.

Su Bai had lost count of how many criminals he had imprisoned and how many of their memories he had viewed. As a result, he had amassed an enormous amount of intelligence.

The death of Xie Nian True Master, the rise of the Gui Chen Sect, the resurgence of the Wansheng Institute—his shadow loomed behind all of them.

And this man had also once been the National Preceptor of the Dayu Immortal Dynasty.

"Yes, my master is indeed the Celestial Secret Sect Master."

Tianyunzi nodded slightly in response to Su Bai’s question.

"The Celestial Secret Sect truly accepts all kinds, it seems."

Su Bai glanced at the Bat Demon kneeling on the floor.

This Elder Demon had cultivated for at least several thousand years. His cultivation was at the Ninth Tribulation Realm Ninth Layer, comparable to many Daoists who held a Divine Position.

He was even a cut above that Fox Daoist from Celestial Origin Mountain.

However, this Bat Demon’s greatest strength was his hearing.

With this Elder Demon’s cultivation, it was likely that everyone in the entire city of Zhangyun was under his surveillance. In terms of intelligence gathering alone, he was far superior to many Daoists.

’I wonder how many more Bat Demons like him the Celestial Secret Sect has.’

’If they have a whole nest of them...’

"This worthless disciple of mine has offended you. I apologize on his behalf."

Tianyunzi’s expression tightened, and he quickly rebuked the demon.

"Worthless disciple, apologize to him at once!"

Countless people in the Dayu Cultivation World had heard of this mysterious, white-robed youth who had appeared out of nowhere, and they were deeply wary of him. He, of course, was no exception.

A figure that even his master had to take seriously was someone he had to treat with the utmost caution.

The Bat Demon hurriedly kowtowed again and again.

"This Little Demon was unaware of your presence and has offended you. I beg for your forgiveness."

"Enough."

With a raise of his hand, Su Bai made the Bat Demon rise to its feet involuntarily.

"You’re a skilled cook. Go make a few of your signature dishes and bring them out."

"Yes... Yes!"

The Bat Demon no longer dared to mention being in a bad mood. Letting out a sigh of relief as if he had been granted amnesty, he turned and headed for the back kitchen.

"And this is?"

Tianyunzi now looked toward Chen Yucai.

Chen Yucai’s emotions were on a rollercoaster. Listening to their conversation, he had no idea what kind of expression he should be wearing.

A Great Demon, the Celestial Secret Sect, a senior...

The shock was a bit too much for him to handle.

Hearing the Daoist’s question, he immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Chen Yucai, a Scholar from Zhangyun City."

"Ah, Mr. Chen."

Tianyunzi greeted him with a smile.

"Let’s discuss this after we’ve finished eating."

Su Bai picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and tossed it to the Silver-White Dog Demon.

The silly dog was so gluttonous; any longer and it would probably be full just from swallowing its own drool.

Tianyunzi nodded and sat down opposite Su Bai.

Delicious food always puts one in a good mood. Even though the ingredients the Bat Demon used were quite ordinary, Su Bai ate with great relish.

In contrast, Chen Yucai and Tianyunzi looked somewhat ill at ease.

Amid flickering lights, the group drank and made toasts.

The Bat Demon bustled about nonstop. By the time Su Bai put down his chopsticks, the moon was already high in the sky.

"Senior, now that you’ve emerged, are you heading to the Capital City of the Dayu Immortal Dynasty to attend the Incense and Candle Grand Assembly organized by the Gui Chen Sect?"

Seeing Su Bai put down his chopsticks, Tianyunzi finally spoke, revealing the purpose of his visit.

"To be honest, I came to find you for this very reason."

News of the Gui Chen Sect holding the Incense and Candle Grand Assembly had long since spread across the land. Nearly every Cultivator of note had received an invitation.

Even many common folk and heroes of the Jianghu had heard about it.

Hearing Tianyunzi bring this up, Chen Yucai couldn’t help but look up.

Many people had long had their grievances with the Gui Chen Sect, and all sorts of rumors were flying around. He hadn’t really believed them at first.

But now, it seemed those words were actually true.

"That’s right."

Su Bai nodded slightly. There was no need to hide it.

Putting aside the question of who would win between the Leader of Gui Chen Sect and the Rebirth Buddha Venerable, the simple fact that the Incense and Candle Grand Assembly would gather so many of the world’s Cultivators was a huge benefit to him.

Among these people, there would surely be Martial Arts Strongmen with no small amount of sin and no small amount of cultivation.

’It seems quite a few people have their eyes on this Incense and Candle Grand Assembly now.’

His journey had been unhurried, partly to survey the land, and partly to lure out the other incarnations of the Leader of Gui Chen Sect.

Unfortunately, the Leader of Gui Chen Sect remained completely unmoved, showing no intention of sending another incarnation to face him.

Or perhaps, after their last exchange, he believed he had already gauged Su Bai’s true strength and saw no need for another test.

"I wonder, what is your opinion on the outcome of this Incense and Candle Grand Assembly?"

Tianyunzi asked, staring at Su Bai.

"I am no Celestial Secret Sect Master. I don’t have the skill for Divination. As for the outcome, we’ll have to wait and see to know for sure."

Su Bai replied casually, then asked in return,

"What are your thoughts, Daoist?"

This Tianyunzi was a True Master with profound Daoist Skills, and his cultivation was considerable, having reached the Void Realm.

However, he seemed to possess some kind of Exotic Treasure that obscured the Celestial Secret and blocked any probing with Divine Sense. Unless they fought, even Su Bai couldn’t discern the man’s specific level of cultivation.

But regardless of which layer of the Void Realm he was in, he was still a Void Realm Cultivator. His cultivation was by no means weak.

"My own skills are far too shallow to calculate the Celestial Secret."

"However, my master once said that if no external forces intervene, the Rebirth Buddha Venerable will be no match for the Leader of Gui Chen Sect at the Incense and Candle Grand Assembly, even if he has mastered the Supreme Technique of the Wansheng Institute."

Tianyunzi’s expression turned grave as he continued,

"That Leader of Gui Chen Sect possesses numerous hidden cards and controls an immeasurable amount of the Power of Incense. His cultivation is unfathomably deep. He has become almost untouchable."

Su Bai remained noncommittal and asked, "So, Daoist, did you come here to propose we join forces against the Gui Chen Sect?"

His own thoughts differed from Tianyunzi’s.

The Wansheng Institute had a long and storied heritage, having once been the leader of the Buddhist Sect. Though it had fallen on hard times, it could not be underestimated.

Since the Rebirth Buddha Venerable dared to challenge the Leader of Gui Chen Sect this time, he must have a card up his sleeve. The final outcome could only be known after they truly fought.

If everything could be calculated with such certainty, there would be no need for them to fight at all.

"What are your thoughts, Senior?"

Tianyunzi frowned slightly. Though he asked, he knew in his heart that he had failed to persuade him.

"The Celestial Secret Sect Master is a Feathered Transformation Great Power. If he chose to join forces with the Rebirth Buddha Venerable against the Leader of Gui Chen Sect, they might well succeed. Why bother trying to rope in anyone else?"

Su Bai said slowly, picking up a cup of wine.

"If he’s looking for a pawn to send to its death, then I’ve underestimated the Celestial Secret Sect Master."

"That is not the case."

Tianyunzi shook his head. He was about to say something, but with a wave of his hand, Chen Yucai vanished from the alley.

"It is not appropriate for this young man to hear what I am about to say."

He explained first, then said with a solemn expression,

"Senior, have you heard of the Seven Heroes and Three Li?"

"Hm?"

Su Bai looked up slightly, his interest piqued.

Having viewed the memories of numerous criminals, he naturally had some understanding of the Seven Heroes and Three Li.

It was said that these ten monsters had once unleashed endless slaughter. Even Emperor Yu had been helpless against them, unable to kill them.

He could only seal or banish them.

It wasn’t until the Netherworld Venerable Master appeared out of nowhere that things changed. Using some unknown method, he managed to seal all ten monsters in the Netherworld, preventing them from ever causing chaos again.

Thus, he was quite curious about these ten supposedly undying and indestructible monsters.

Few Cultivators in the world were unaware of these ten Great Demons.

Su Bai’s focus sharpened.

The Silver-White Dog Demon, its belly stuffed and round, also perked up at this moment.

"The Seven Heroes and Three Li are said to be ten peerless Great Demons born naturally from the world itself. Their origins are mysterious, their Life Force is so tenacious that they are nearly undying and indestructible, and their power is tyrannical and unrivaled."

"Even a Feathered Transformation Great Power is no match for them."

"The power of these ten Great Demons might be comparable to those who have achieved Ascension to Immortality, or it might even surpass that. As for the truth of the matter, those of us with humble status cannot possibly investigate."

"Throughout history, countless sages and ancestors have died at their hands. They are truly world-devouring monsters!"

"Back then, if the Netherworld Venerable Master had not emerged, the Desolate Province and Yun Province would likely still be kingdoms of Demon Ghosts, where the Ten Thousand Spirits were treated as nothing more than rations, like livestock."

A trace of gravity appeared in Tianyunzi’s eyes.

The Seven Heroes and Three Li!

This name had been passed down for tens of thousands of years; no one could afford to ignore it.

Throughout history, countless Evil Demon Cultivators had taken the Seven Heroes and Three Li as their source of faith, founding numerous Evil Cults and Evil Sects.

"Don’t tell me the Gui Chen Sect is connected to the Seven Heroes and Three Li?"

Su Bai’s thoughts stirred.

The story of the Netherworld Venerable Master suppressing the Seven Heroes and Three Li was known to all.

Yet, no one he had ever met, including the Leader of Gui Chen Sect himself, knew the exact location within the Netherworld where the Seven Heroes and Three Li were sealed.

If anyone knew where the Seven Heroes and Three Li were sealed, it would likely only be the highest echelons of the Dayu Immortal Dynasty... and the Celestial Secret Sect Master.

He had originally planned to seek out the Celestial Secret Sect Master after the Incense and Candle Grand Assembly to ask about this very thing. This was quite a coincidence.

"The Gui Chen Sect does indeed have a connection to the Seven Heroes and Three Li."

Tianyunzi glanced around and unconsciously lowered his voice.

"It is said that the Leader of Gui Chen Sect has found the descendants of one of the Three Li—the Resentful Fury!"

"Descendants of the Resentful Fury?"

Su Bai’s eyes flickered.

’One of the Three Li... Resentment!’

’If this is true, then things are getting interesting.’

"The Leader of Gui Chen Sect somehow found a group of the Resentful Fury’s descendants. The reason he is gathering the endless Power of Incense from the Thirteen Provinces is threefold."

"Second, to cultivate these descendants and probe their bloodline for the source of their undying and indestructible nature."

"And third... for the Resentful Fury itself."

"Even those who achieve Ascension to Immortality will eventually decay, and even the Feathered will perish. Yet the Seven Heroes and Three Li are undying and indestructible. What Cultivator in this world doesn’t envy and yearn for such a state?"

Tianyunzi said slowly.

"This time, my master has united with many fellow Daoists not for his own selfish gain, but for the sake of all the Ten Thousand Spirits..."

"You say all the Cultivators in the world envy the undying and indestructible nature of the Seven Heroes and Three Li."

"Does that include your master?"

Su Bai’s gaze was distant as he set down his wine cup and spoke slowly.

"The Celestial Secret Sect Master has already lived for tens of thousands of years. It seems... his lifespan is nearing its end."